DNA methylation in lymphoma: An opportunity?

Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, play an important role in not only the development and maturation of normal cells, but also the development and progression of malignant cells.¹ In this edition of Blood, Arribas et al show that DNA methylation profiling identifies 2 subtypes of splenic marginal zone lymphoma with different clinical and genetic features.² These findings provide an opportunity to better understand the biology of marginal zone lymphoma and optimize therapy by using demethylating agents to reverse the high-methylation phenotype and thereby target malignant B cells.